Every year, for Christmas, Luca Cupiello builds his Christmas crib at home... and every year the crib is the climax of all his attention during the festive season, even though no one else in his family really cares about it.

But this Christmas Luca's worries will go beyond the lack of interest ofhis wife Concetta, his brother Pasqualino who lives in the same house,and his two children Ninuccia, the married daughter and Tommasino the younger son spoilt by his mother.

Trouble starts when Ninuccia decides to leave her husband after falling in love with another man. And although even the neighbours in this block of apartments become aware of the situation Luca himself is, or pretends to be, unaware of the problems afflicting his family, focusing his energy and attention on his crib.

The story of this social comedy written by Eduardo De Filippo and translated into Maltese by Louis Azzopardi takes place in Naples in the1950s.

The main characters include John Frendo, Nadia Polidano, Edwina Farrugia, Joe Camilleri, Tonio Vassallo and Leon Xuereb. The Director is Arthur Micallef.

Eduardo De Filippo (1900-1984) is conidered one of the best writers of his time. He was also an actor and started his acting career at the age offive. In 1981 he was appointed lifetime senator in the Italian Parliament.

Atturi Salesjani have already staged some of the most popular plays by De Filippo among which Filumena Marturano, Napoli Milionaria, and La Famiglia.

Il-Milied ta' Cupiello will be staged by Atturi Salesjani at the Salesian Theatre, Howard Street, Sliema on Saturday, 17 January 2015 at 7.30pm and Sunday 18 January 2015 at 6.30pm.

Tickets for theprice of €10 can be purchased online at www.teatrusalesjan.com, from the Embassy Cinemas, from the Salesian Theatre at Howard Street Sliema between the 13 and 16 January from 6pm to 8pm, or before the performance from the Salesian Theatre.

Parking is available free of charge at St Patrick's School grounds on Saturday and at the Oratory ground on Sunday.